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Donald Trump to open MEFMA’s first international FM conference being held in Dubai.

 
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1 Mar 2012

'The New Economy - The right time and right place for FM' will set the tone for the inaugural MEFMA (Middle East Facility Management Association) Conference.

As markets adapt to a new economic reality, the real estate and property industries in the Middle East are coping with legislative change, cost corrections and new buyer demands; all issues that facilities management can address and will be discussed at the conference by world leaders in FM, construction and development.

Bringing an original perspective to proceedings is the professional speaker - Robert Alain, otherwise known as ‘Spiderman’ who has climbed the outside of 85 buildings, including the Burj Khalifa.
Bringing an original perspective to proceedings is the professional speaker - Robert Alain, otherwise known as ‘Spiderman’ who has climbed the outside of 85 buildings, including the Burj Khalifa.

Held on 11th and 12th March at The Dubai World Trade Centre, Mr Trump will open proceedings, via video-link, speaking about the potential that exists in the regional real estate market and the need for professional facilities management to sustain standards.

He will be followed by the Chairwomen for the Global Facility Management Association, Teena Shouse who will provide perspective by comparing operations in the Middle East with the contribution facility management adds to business in other continents. The CEO of RERA, H.E. Marwan Bin Ghulaitha also joins the line-up and will highlight the impact FM has on the economic growth in local real estate and property development.

Bringing an original perspective to proceedings is the professional speaker - Robert Alain, otherwise known as ‘Spiderman’ who has climbed the outside of 85 buildings, including the Burj Khalifa when he was last in Dubai. He will be joined by Greg Lindsay, who, as an author, journalist and lecturer, speaks frequently about the future of cities, most recently at the World Policy Institute & National Building Museum.

Also speaking are CEO’s and FM Directors representing the region’s most important companies in the industry, including EC Harris, EFS, eSolutions Maximo, Vivoteq, Transfield Mannai Facilities Management Services, Chayora and Hyder Consulting.

Commenting upon the events importance, H.E. Mohamed Al Mehairi, CEO of Musanada and Board Member of MEFMA said: “Facilities management is becoming the barometer for a developing economy because it marks the completion of new developments being handed over with improved consideration for the service agreement. Likewise, FM is prolonging the value of existing buildings by updating operational efficiency and allowing investors to remain focussed on their business. So understanding its impact on the built environment is critical and the conference will help by discussing the market issues which are affecting wider FM adoption.”

Jamal Lootah, Chairman for MEFMA and CEO of Imdaad, concludes: “The conference comes at a time of particularly strong growth for the regional industry. In the Middle East, the facilities management industry is expected to be worth US $8 billion by 2013 operating at a profitability margin between 10% and 15%. But there is room for further growth, providing that it continues to adhere to best practice and markets itself to developers, architects and landlords that understand its value.”

Making the conference possible are its sponsors, Al Shirawi, which is a founding member of MEFMA and the platinum sponsor of the event. Berkeley Services Group and Cofely Besix are also sponsors, and thanks to its sustainability partner, Farnek Avireal, the conference will be carbon neutral.



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